Friday Faves

ALC Theodore Jumpsuit

Zac Posen Resort '13

Loeffler Randall Fleur Wedge...I can hardly breathe

Dress & booties from II Brunettes, both under $200 a piece 

Turkish T for Goop

Turkish T

 I'm a big fan of the adult blanky. Judge me all you want but I still have mine and I will cut you if you touch it. I slightly obsess over things that can almost double as a wrap or shawl/travel blanket (AKA adult blanky). I love this Nashville-based line, Turkish T, for their gorgeous Turkish cotton blanky/wrap/towels. Another amazing Taigan find, BTW. The colorful guys above are the Beach Candy Basic, and are their staple. It can be a pareo, a wrap, a beach towel, or a blanket. The colors are super enticing, but I love that the gray is really subtle and sophisticated (below). Their textiles are handwoven in Turkey using 100% natural cotton or linen cloth, and they're the oldest and largest distributor of hand-loomed Turkish cotton and linen products in the US. (You just learned something!) They also do bath and hand towels, and even towels for baby. It's a great year round thing to have in the repertoire. The BEST, most amazing thing about their products is the price! I think the most expensive thing I looked at was $45. They make for a good holiday gift or stocking stuffer. 

Delicate Bamboo Honeycomb towel. Super luxe. 

Towels for the baby!

Luck O The Irish!

I love St. Patrick's Day; I like the Irish, really. I think it's the bagpipes? St. Patty's in Savannah gives you a whole new appreciation for the day, and I do NOT mean the shenanigans down on River Street; the whole community comes out, stores shut down, there's a huge parade with lots of tailgating, and it's fantastic. (And there are TONS of bagpipes.) In honor of the day of green I wanted to share some pictures of the cutest party ideas from the girls of Ollie Grey out of Nashville. They've got some fantastic party ideas, and the girls are available to plan everything from birthday parties, to showers, and they're even doing weddings! Have a happy, happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Check out more of Ollie Grey's fab party ideas on their blog:

http://olliegrey.blogspot.com/

or on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/olliegreyevents

Handcrafted And Handsome

We all know that this is a tough economy, but there is one industry, particularly here in the South that has been suffering for much longer than the past 4 years or so. That would be the textile manufacturers (and most craft goods, for that matter); things have shifted so that it is more affordable for companies to have their goods and products made overseas and by machines, not people. This has greatly impacted the South and its' economy. There is an artist out of Nashville who is striving to change this pattern; Emil Congdon of Emil Erwin is on a mission to bring quality and tradition back to manufacturing.

Inspired by the craftsmanship of his grandfather's generation, Emil creates small batch, made-to-order canvas and leather goods. Everything is designed by the craftsman himself, and handcrafted start to finish in his shop at his home in Nashville, and cost-cutting never supersedes quality. His products are mostly working-style bags; there's a handsome messenger bag, a sturdy, classic briefcase, and a smart shopper tote. His work is vintage-inspired, the products have classic lines and trims, and the materials are made to age and age beautifully. 

It's clear that Emil wants his bags to stand the test of time; he wants them to be the treasures generations to come find in their grandparents' attics. He provides his customers with the promise, the guarantee, of quality; he wants his products to be done right. 

I am so inspired by artists like Emil; it pains me to think of the jobs and the artistry that we have lost over the years through companies choosing to cut costs and overhead, and I have the deepest respect for the people who are now fighting back against that movement. To be sure, buying a piece from Emil Erwin is more than just an investment in your wardrobe. 

Learn more about Emil Erwin at their website:

http://www.emilerwin.com/